Not a lameduck PM, says Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Dismissing talk that he is a "lameduck" Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he has been entrusted with the job by the Congress party from which he has not heard "any contrary view".

Terming the perception that his government had gone "comatose" and was "lameduck" as clever propaganda of the Opposition "to which some sections of the media had lent ear", Singh asserted that "truth will prevail" and his performance will speak.

Singh spoke of "maximum possible cooperation" that he was getting from Congress President Sonia Gandhi whom he met one-on-one every week. He had never felt that she was an "obstacle".

During a 100-minute interaction with five editors at his official residence, a relaxed Prime Minister confidently fielded questions on a wide range of issues including the talk that Rahul Gandhi should take his place, the Lokpal Bill, corruption and relations with neighbouring countries.

Sonia Gandhi had done a "superb job" as Congress President for nearly 15 years now, he underlined.

Asked about occasional statements from party functionaries that Rahul Gandhi should become Prime Minister, Singh said that the Congress Party and its President had entrusted him with this job and he had not heard any contrary view from the Congress high command.

"In fact, the Congress high command has always been most supportive, particularly Mrs Gandhi," the Prime Minister said.

He went on to add, "Personally, if you ask me, the general proposition that younger people should take over, I think, is the right sentiment". Whenever the party "makes up its mind I will be very happy to step down, but so long as I am here I have a job to do".

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Anna Hazare to meet Sonia Gandhi tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Social activist Anna Hazare will be meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday to seek her support on the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Team Anna is meeting leaders of all political parties to explain its draft of Lokpal bill and seek their help in incorporating it in final draft.

Meanwhile, reacting to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comment on the Lokpal, Anna Hazare said that the Prime Minister should try to convince his government on including the PMO in the Lokpal bill.

Manmohan Singh had said in his interaction with the editors earlier today said that he was not averse to the post of PM coming under the ambit of

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India on path for next round of growth, asserts Pranab Mukherjee

WASHINGTON: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee strongly refuted observations by US think- tanks, the government and industry that India has gone slow on economic reforms and insisted that a series of reforms are in the process, which will lead to the next round of growth.

However, Mukherjee observed that reforms in India require political consensus, which is being worked upon by the government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Reform is a continuous process and the UPA government is committed to it.

"The more you reform, there is the need for additional reform," he argued addressing a meeting of India and American corporate leaders, policy makers and think-tank members at a conference on the 'US-India Economic and Financial Partnership' jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Brookings Institute, a Washington-based think-tank.

"We have taken certain steps, as I was talking of structural reforms," said Mukherjee, who arrived in Washington on Monday leading a high-powered Indian delegation for the second India-US Economic and Financial Partnership discussions being held here.

"We have recently finalised the guidelines of the debt bonds. We have also decided that... FDI to be more user-friendly (and) all prior regulation and guidelines have been consolidated into one comprehensive document which is reviewed every six months. This has been done with the specific intent of enhancing clarity and predictability of our FDI policy to foreign investors," he said.

"Ownership and control is now central to the FDI policy and the methodology in this regard has been clearly defined. Discussions are currently underway to build consensus on further liberalisation of the FDI policy," he said.


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Freed after 10 months, Indian crew of MV Suez reach Delhi

NEW DELHI: After 10 months in the captivity of Somali pirates, six Indian sailors of M V Suez vessel touched down on home soil on Friday to an emotional welcome from family members.

The sailors came by an Emirates flight from Dubai which landed at IGI Airport at 9.36am and were received by family and friends carrying garlands.

Relatives broke down in tears at the sight of the rescued sailors as their children carried placards that read 'Thank you Ansar Burney uncle, we love you', in a reference to the Pakistani human rights activist who facilitated their release from the sea brigands.

Closely holding his three-year-old son, Ravinder Singh Bhulia, one of the released crew members who hails from Rohtak, said, "Indian and Pakistani media helped us a lot. As far as the Indian government's role in the release, I don't want to comment on it".

With tears rolling down her cheeks, his wife Champa said, "The pain would never go".

Another released crew member Prashant Chauhan said, "I am very happy. I waited for this moment for 10 months".

The Indians were part of the 22 member crew, including four Pakistanis, a Sri Lankan and 11 Egyptians, who were freed last week after ransom was paid to the Somali pirates.

The crew of the MV Suez was brought to Karachi on Thursday by Pakistan Navy warship PNS Zulfiqar, which had picked up sailors from the waters off Oman.The MV Suez had sank somewhere off the coast of Oman after running out of fuel.

There was no government representative to receive them at the airport.

N K Sharma, another released crew member, said, "Whatever Pakistan government has done is really praiseworthy. We don't know what Indian government did or did not but Pakistan government has treated us well."

Recounting his ordeal, Sharma said they starved for many days and on some days they just got water.

"We used to get boiled rice, spaghetti and potato once a week," he said.

Family members of the released men thanked Burney for facilitating the release of the sailors, but complained that the Indian government did little to save the sailors.

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R K Singh to be next home secretary

NEW DELHI: Raj Kumar Singh, an IAS officer of the 1975 batch, is all set to take over as the next Union home secretary.

His name was cleared by the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday. A formal notification on his appointment will be issued soon, official sources said.

Singh, a Bihar cadre officer, will succeed G K Pillai who retires on June 30. Singh, currently secretary, defence production, in the ministry of defence, had last week appeared before home minister P Chidambaram for an interview, along with a few others including Punjab chief secretary S C Aggarwal.

Singh had met defence minister A K Antony earlier this week and expressed his desire to move into the high-profile post in North Block. Sources said the defence minister readily accepted Singh's request and assured him that he would be relieved from the present assignment once a formal decision is taken by the government.

Singh, who had earlier served in the home ministry as a joint secretary for about five years, will have a fixed two-year term.

Pillai, a 1972 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, took charge as home secretary in June 2009 -- seven months after the Mumbai terror attack -- and oversaw the complete overhaul of the country's security establishment.


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South Mumbai bungalow sold for record Rs 350 crore

MUMBAI: A suburban developer has paid a record price of Rs 350 crore for a Nepean Sea bungalow property. Runwal Group, which has projects largely in the eastern suburbs, bought Nepean Grange , the two-storey bungalow constructed in 1918, from the Kapadia family. The transaction was finally concluded a few days ago after months of negotiations, TOI has learnt. Property sources said this could probably be the highest price paid for a bungalow in the city. The 2,048 sq m land also has an outhouse, servants' quarters and a car park.

The half-acre property, which falls under the coastal regulation zone II, was on the block for two years and the developer had to deal with nine joint owners of the Kapadia family. The owners settled the deal for Rs 270 crore. However, the bungalow also housed a tenant, the Lilani family, who demanded Rs 80 crore from Runwals to vacate the property.

The new owners of Nepean Grange will compensate the tenant who currently occupies about 4,800 sq ft of the 28,000 sq ft bungalow. The bungalow is located close to the Kilachand House, which too is on the block.

The Runwals will demolish Nepean Grange and build a high-end residential tower on the land. The Piramals, ABG Shipyard and Orbit Group were some of the other contenders for this property.

Last year, an old bungalow property called Villa Nirmala in the residential enclave of Carmichael Road in south Mumbai was bought for around Rs 300 crore by Peninsula Landpart of the Ashok Piramal Group and developer Khemchand Kothari. The transaction involved a payment of Rs 240 crore, plus 15,000 sq ft of space for the occupants of the bungalow once it was redeveloped . The structure, which occupies about half an acre and has a garden at the back, will make way for a high-rise .

Bungalows with heritage value have been falling to developers like nine pins over the past decade. Some of the most beautiful ones are located on Nepean Sea Road and Altamount /Carmichael Roads in south Mumbai.

In 2004, the Cama family of Mumbai Samachar sold its sprawling bungalow, Cosy Corner, behind Elizabeth Nursing Home (off Nepean Sea Road) for Rs 108 crore to the Satellite Group. The two-storeyed Cama bungalow, constructed in the 1920s, had close to a dozen rooms and a porch that overlooks lush, spacious gardens. Heritage buffs and city historians were dismayed when the developer demolished it and build a luxury residential tower.

Similarly, dozens of old, colonial-style bungalows were razed to make way for towers. Properties on Nepean Sea Road that were more than a century old have been demolished after they were bought over by private developers.
Nepean House, which was once located behind Nepean Terrace, went under the hammer years ago and the FSI from this plot was used to build the Ashiana apartment block. Kshitij, a skyscraper on Napean Sea Road, came up a few decades ago on a bungalow property owned by Cowasjee Jehangir. Similarly , the Maharaja of Baroda's palace gave way to the residential building Jal Darshan.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Carmichael Road saw a plethora of stately homes dotting its lush hill slopes. Old-timers recalled that many of these houses were built for about Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. Among the oldest is the sprawling municipal commissioner's bungalow, which came up in the 1920s, and the official residence of the Port Trust chairman , built in 1918.

The plot on which Mumbai's first skyscraper, Usha Kiran, came up, once housed a princely-looking bungalow belonging to a Marwari family, called the Khandelwals. Among the other properties that were rebuilt, modified or expanded in the past were the Dahanukar bungalow, the Birla family house and Ghia Mansion.

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Govt takes control of Singur Nano factory

SINGUR/KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee government seems to be inching towards return of land from the disputed site in Singur, even as it fights a legal battle in Calcutta high court.

The Tata Nano factory was virtually taken over by the Hooghly administration on Thursday. Inventory of the articles inside the abandoned site was also conducted. Industries minister Partha Chatterjee said: "The process (of returning land) is under way. Let us wait and see what happens."

The minister was replying to queries by reporters at Writers' Buildings whether the ongoing legal tussle had stalled movement from the government's end. Chatterjee smiled and said, "Wait a while. You will get to know more in the assembly tomorrow. I can't say any more as the matter is sub judice."

The minister's sentiment was echoed in the administration's promptness in getting on with the formalities, after the gazette notification of the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011. The law department is framing rules, even as Tata Motors has challenged the Act in high court.

After taking possession of the Singur factory complex late on Tuesday, the district administration got its act together, initiating inventory work on Thursday. Since morning, no local was in the vicinity as policemen (some 591 of them) took control. The rejoicing villagers and the mobs that stole iron rods and other materials from the compound on Wednesday had disappeared. About 40 staff members of the Singur BDO office, district land acquisition offices (DLO) in Singur and Chinsurah walked in after the police vacated six rooms inside the factory complex. These were used as welding, paint and engine shops when the factory was operational. The officials will be living inside the factory from now on -as will the policemen.

Hooghly SP, Tanmoy Roy Chowdhury, said, "We have posted nearly 600 policemen inside the factory."

The chassis of Nano cars and machinery parts lay strewn around the factory. Hooghly district magistrate Sripriya Rangarajan supervised the listing work and stayed on till the cataloging was complete.

Clearly the administration wasn't taking chances, especially as Tata Motor' advocate Samaraditya Pal alleged pilferage and loot at the project site, presenting video footage from news channels. In view of this, Justice Soumitra Pal has asked the DM, Hooghly, to submit a ground report by 11am on Friday.

Police on Thursday arrested one person from Bablaband area as he was carrying away bricks from the factory site. Police and officers from the district administration spoke to villagers asking them to maintain law and order.

Basudeb Das of Purba Para in Beraberi village, said, "We are sure we'll get our land back." But Udayan Das, a land-loser and member of the Singur Silpa Sthapan O Unnayan Committee, that has joined the Tatas in the court battle, said, "If the Tatas don't return, we shall demand our land back." He was one of those who had "willingly" parted with his land, for the sake of the Tata project.

PCC president Pradip Bhattacharya supported the government in its bid to return land to Singur farmers. "The government has kept its word," he said after meeting chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.

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98 kg gold, Rs.12 crore cash found in Sathya Sai Baba's chamber

Hyderabad, June 17 (IANS) Around Rs.12 crore in cash and nearly 100 kg of gold were found from Yajur Mandir, the personal chamber of late spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi of Anantapur district, a trust official said.

A day after the Sathya Sai Central Trust opened the locks of Yajur Mandir, trust member and Baba's nephew R.J. Ratnakar Friday evening announced details of the cash and valuables found inside.

He told reporters at Puttaparthi that they found Rs.11.56 crore, 98 kg gold and 307 kg silver. Ratnakar said the cash would be deposited with State Bank of India (SBI).

Some bank officials and about 15 disciples of Baba, in the presence of trust members, have since Thursday counted the cash and valued the gold jewellery.

Ratnakar, however, denied that they found any will of Baba. He also evaded queries if the trust found any documents about Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit. There are speculations that the spiritual guru wanted Satyajit to be a member of the powerful trust.

Yajur Mandir, also known as Yajurveda Mandir, had remained closed ever since Sathya Sai Baba was hospitalised March 28 with multi-organ dysfunction. He died April 24.

The trust, which manages the huge spiritual empire led by Baba, owns assets in Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities.

Ulfa ready to announce ceasefire

GUWAHATI: The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction of Ulfa is set to declare ceasefire formally to pave the way for peace talks with the Centre.

"Our general council has decided to declare ceasefire either by the end of this month or the first week of July,'' Ulfa deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, who's with the Rajkhowa faction, said on Sunday.

A senior police official involved in the peace process with Ulfa confirmed the announcement. ``The ceasefire declaration by Ulfa is expected soon after some formalities are completed. This will be followed by signing of the suspension of operation between the government and Ulfa. This may happen either in the third or fourth week of July. The ceasefire ground rules will be finalized at the same time,'' he said.

The official said once Ulfa signs the suspension of operation, it has to deposit all weapons in its possession. ``So far, there has not been any problem in carrying forward the peace process with the Ulfa's pro-talks faction, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. Its members have managed to keep their weapons in control. Besides, there has not been any report of misuse of arms by them,'' he said.

On Saturday, Ulfa's pro-talks faction spokesman, Mrinal Hazarika, had told TOI that they would not lay down arms. However, Hazarika had made it clear that Ulfa had no problem in declaring a formal ceasefire and sign the suspension of operation.

There has been an informal suspension of operation against Ulfa ever since Rajkhowa and his top aides, including Raju Baruah, were held in Bangladesh and brought to India in 2009.

In February this year, an eight-member Ulfa delegation, led by Rajkhowa, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram and home secretary G K Pillai and began the process of dialogue after three decades of insurgency. Though Rajkhowa and several top leaders of Ulfa favour a negotiated settlement, the elusive military boss of the outfit, Paresh Baruah, is still opposing the peace process.

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Govt, civil society members meet on Lokpal Bill

NEW DELHI: The joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill met here on Monday amid hardening of stand by the government and civil society on the contentious issue of bringing under its ambit the Prime Minister, judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside Parliament.

Except for civil society member Justice Santosh Hegde, all members of the ten member committee attended the meeting at finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's office in North Block.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of a shrill exchange of words between both sides on contentious issues and government making it clear that it was opposed to bringing the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal.

The government is also opposed to bringing judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside Parliament. The civil society side led by Anna Hazare, however, wants these under the anti- corruption ombudsman.

"We will try to settle the issues as much as possible. There are six issues on which we have differences of opinion," Hegde, who did not attend today's meeting, said.

During the last meeting on June 15, government nominees had asked the civil society members to present their draft while they will present theirs as there was no forward movement. It was also decided that a draft bill will go to the Cabinet along with points of divergence.

In an indication that the Congress had hardened its stand, party chief Sonia Gandhi sent a terse letter to Hazare indicating her unhappiness with him for making his letter public and said she has already made her views "clear" on issues raised him.

Today's deliberations could be the last meeting of the joint committee and another round will be held on Tuesday only if the discussions for an anti-corruption watchdog are not concluded.

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2G scam: SC rejects Kanimozhi's bail plea

NEW DELHI: A special Supreme Court bench on Monday rejected bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar in the 2G spectrum scam case.

However, the SC gave liberty to Kanimozhi to move to trial court afresh for bail after framing of charges in the case.

The apex court said she could invoke section 437 of criminal procedure code which provides for grant of bail to women in cognizable offences. This means Kanimozhi and other accused, including A Raja and corporate biggies, must wait in jail for framing of charges before they can move fresh bail pleas.

The case was heard by a bench headed by Justice GS Singvi, who has been monitoring the case since the beginning and had asked searching questions to the government on the role of several influential people in the multi-crore scam.

Kanimozhi and Kumar have been accused by the CBI to be involved in the illegal transaction of Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV which was alleged to be a bribe given by a telecom operator which had benefited in the scam, PTI reported.

The CBI in its affidavit filed in the apex court opposed their bail pleas on the ground that if released, they could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses.

Earlier two judges -- P Sathasivam and AK Patnaik -- before whom the matter was listed had recused themselves from the high-profile case.

Instead, Justice Singhvi, whose bench has been monitoring the case, will on Monday hold a special hearing along with Justice BS Chauhan to decide the bail.

According to informed sources, justices P Sathasivam and A K Patnaik conveyed their decision to recuse to Chief Justice SH Kapadia, following which he constituted another bench.

Opposing the bail plea, the probe agency contended in its affidavit that Kanimozhi and Kumar were key conspirators and Rs 200 crore transferred to Kalaignar TV was part of the "bribe" amount and not a loan as claimed by the accused.

The central agency submitted the special CBI court and later the Delhi high court carefully evaluated material evidence and other factors to refuse bail to them.

The apex court had on June 13 agreed to hear their bail plea and asked CBI to explain where the Rs 200 crore, allegedly diverted to DMK-owned Kalaignar TV in 2G scam, has gone and also to file a response on their bail pleas in a week's time.

The court had also asked CBI to come out with a status report on the loss to the state exchequer due to the award of 13 licences to one of the telecom operators and trial proceedings in the CBI special court.

Kanimozhi and Kumar had moved the apex court seeking bail on June 10 challenging the Delhi high court verdict that rejected their bail on the ground that they have strong political connections and the possibility of them influencing witnesses cannot be ruled out.

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Congress decides to hold all-party meet on Lokpal issue

NEW DELHI: With the issue of bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal remaining a controversial issue, the government is expected to soon call an all-party meeting to seek views across the political spectrum.

This became clear on Saturday after a meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had with top party leaders favouring such parleys against the backdrop of widening differences between the government and the civil society representatives led by Anna Hazare on the issue.

Grappling with the issue and other sensitive matters like Telangana, the Congress core group headed by Sonia Gandhi met fon Saturday, the second meeting coming just after its two-hour long deliberations on Friday night. Today's meeting also discussed Telangana problem. .

The Hazare camp is pitching for inclusion of Prime Minister and the higher judiciary in the proposed Lokpal Bill during meetings of the Joint Committee to draft the measure. The committee will now be meeting on June 20 and 21.

Government is prima facie opposed to the inclusion of Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the idea of covering him once he demits office.

HRD minister Sibal said,"within the government, we feel prima facie, the Prime Minister should not be covered (under the Lokpal). But at the same time we want to make sure that if he demits office, he should not be exonerated from prosecution."


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President to disclose assets in push to transparency

NEW DELHI: The first citizen of India is a shining example of transparency. Setting a precedent for ministers and bureaucrats — many of whom are yet to take the cue — President Pratibha Patil is all set to declare her assets.

Earlier this month, the prime minister had reminded the ministers about the annual declaration of assets and business interests along with that of their spouses. Former cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar had also written to the ministers on this on June 2. More than 600 IAS officers of the 4,000-odd in the service have missed the May 31 deadline for declaration of assets, and the list of movable and immovable properties of IPS officers are still trickling in.

Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Archana Dutta said: "The President of India is not required to declare his or her assets to any public authority. However, President Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil has decided to make the assets of her and her family public."

Chandrasekhar's letter had stated that ministers' disclosures consist of all immovable properties and the total approximate value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewellery apart from a list of their and families' business interests.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Thursday had suggested that it is not mandatory for the President to declare her assets since various other functionaries like ministers, judges and election commissioners are making the disclosure voluntarily.
Information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi passed the order, while underlining that the commission is not empowered to do so since it is not mandated under the RTI Act. He made the observation while hearing a plea of RTI activist Subhash Agarwal, who sought details of the assets of the President and her family and the steps taken to put them on the website.

Sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan said Patil's decision has nothing to do with the CIC suggestion, and she wants to make the disclosures on her own accord. The matter, sources said, had been on her mind ever since the issue came up with respect to the council of ministers, and is in keeping with the government's motto of transparency for all public office-bearers. "There is no connection with the CIC order," the official added.

Satellite imagery allays fears of China's diversion of Brahmaputra waters

NEW DELHI: The government for the first time said on Thursday that India is using satellite imagery to track the movement of the Brahmaputra River following reports about China's plans to divert waters which could impact downstream countries like India and Bangladesh. Government officials said imagery has confirmed that there was no diversion as yet caused by China's Zangmu dam on the main Brahmaputra River, but admitted that Beijing is building other "smaller" dams on tributaries of the Brahmaputra.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday met foreign minister S M Krishna over the issue and was provided the same assurance by Krishna. According to the government, while the construction of Zangmu dam had stopped the river temporarily, there were two channels on the sides that allowed the continuous flow of water. "There is no diversion yet as we have confirmed through satellite imagery and other information available with us. They are constructing smaller dams on tributaries of the Brahmaputra, but these too we are told are run-of-the-river projects," said a source.

Officials insisted that this time their clarification was different because they had ascertained facts on their own. "We don't just discuss or just trust...we also verify," the official said, noting that India has the satellite capability for the past three years.

As for plans being discussed in China to divert water in the upper reaches, officials said they did not want to answer "hypothetical" questions. Government officials sought to shift focus to Krishna's earlier statement that it was perhaps more important for states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to harness water properly.

Krishna told reporters after his meeting with Gogoi earlier in the day that China has assured India it is only building a run-of-the-river power project on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, and that it would not divert the river.

"So when this is the case, my earnest suggestion to the governments of Assam as also Arunachal Pradesh is they should go ahead and prepare the necessary project reports in order to utilize the Brahmaputra water to the maximum benefit of the people," he said, adding that the states should prepare a plan in consultation with the Planning Commission and other agencies.

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IED recovered from Kanchenjunga Express, defused

GUWAHATI: An improvised explosive device (IED) was reported to have been recovered from Kanchenjunga Express at the Guwahati Railway Station early Thursday morning. The IED was defused by the police, TV report said.

The bomb, which was said to have been planted inside a tiffin box, was found during a routine check in the train coming from Kolkata.

The IED found on the Kanchenjunga Express, which plies between Kolkata and Guwahati, is reported to be a powerful timer device.

Security forces are on the search to find any more such devices.

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Now, post office deposits come under tax net

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to monitor all deposits made under post office schemes and bring them at par with bank interest earnings, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified that income from post office savings schemes will be taxed from the current financial year.

By making it mandatory for individuals to declare investments in their tax returns, I-T department has brought all such deposits under its scanner.

A CBDT notification said a declaration to this effect has to be made in the income tax returns filed by an individual. Any income earned beyond Rs 3,500 annually in case of individuals and Rs 7,000 in case of joint accounts will be taxable, the notification said.

By setting a minimum limit of Rs 3,500 on interest earnings, the I-T department has exempted small depositors who get 3.5% interest. Thus, a small depositor with a maximum saving of Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh in case of joint account holders, won't have to pay any tax.

Small and marginal farmers who generally invest in post office schemes would thus be exempt from the new levy. Tax will be applicable for only those who invest in post office instruments more than the prescribed limit.

"This is done to minimize and phase out tax deductions and exemptions," CBDT spokesperson Shishir Jha said. The government is slowly moving towards the Direct Tax Code which seeks to phase out tax deductions.

Interest earnings from bank savings account are taxed by the government. This will also bring post office earnings at par with earnings from banks. Post office deposits had swelled over the years both from small and large investors. All such deposits were going under the radar of the tax investigators. There was no mechanism to keep a check.

TOI

Guwahati Archbishop nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

GUWAHATI: Archbishop of Guwahati Thomas Menamparampil has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his initiatives to bring peace among ethnic communities of the North East.

The Archbishop's name has been nominated by a popular Italian magazine 'Il Bollettino Salesiano' which also published a four-page story on Menamparampil in its June edition titled 'A Bishop for Nobel Prize'.

"I had not expected the nomination, but was overwhelmed by it. I was told about the possibility of such a development during my visit to Rome last month," Menamparampil said here on Sunday.

"The award does not matter while carrying out peace initiatives. I will continue my mission for peace irrespective of whether I get any recognition or award. The need of the hour is adopting a non-confrontational attitude, tolerance and respect for each other for lasting peace in society," the Archbishop said.

During the last fifteen years, Menamparampil has successfully led seven major peace initiatives -- Bodo-Adivasi in 1996, Kuki-Paite in 1998, Dimasa-Hmar in 2003, Karbi-Kuki in 2003, Dimasa-Karbi in 2004, Bodo-Muslim at Udalguri in 2010 and Rabha-Garo in 2011.

"The people associated with Church negotiating peace in a conflict situation may not be considered a politically correct act, but when Church leaders and eminent citizens from warring factions join me in the conflict resolution process, it is making the Word of God come alive in the lives of people," he said.

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Govt purposefully defaming Lokpal movement: Anna Hazare

AHMEDNAGAR (Maharashtra): Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday accused the office bearers of Congress and Union ministers of intentionally "defaming" the Lokpal movement and emerging NGO sector in the country.

"They (the government) making lot many allegations, including the so-called hidden support and political agenda designed by RSS and BJP, is a sheer humiliation of sentiments of the common Indians. They are trying to demoralise and confuse agitators fighting against corruption and this proves insensitivity of government," Hazare said.

Hazare also said that he had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi to draw her attention towards the "mudslinging" ahead of the next meeting of the Lokpal draft committee in Delhi.

The anti-corruption crusader, who turns 74 on June 15, was felicitated here by an NGO last evening.

While expressing his resolve to start hunger strike if the centre fails to enact the Lokpal Bill in stipulated time, Hazare said, "No one can stop the emerging social and political change in India. Now people have realised that they have to become agents of change and must not rely only on leaders and political parties."

He also reiterated his resolve to start hunger strike if the government goes back on its commitment to Lokpal Bill.

The civil society activists, led by the Gandhian, had last Monday boycotted the meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill saying government's intentions raised serious doubts about having a strong anti-corruption watchdog and protesting against the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev.

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Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II test-fired

BALASORE (ORISSA): India test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur as part of the user trial by the Army.

"The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was test-fired from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 0905 hours", defence officials said.

With a maximum striking range of 350 km, the missile is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500-1000 kg warhead.

"Prithvi-II missile had proved its robustness and accuracy during many trials earlier," an official of the Defence Research and development Organisation (DRDO) said.

"Taken from routine production lot during earlier user's trials by the Army, the missile had achieved single digit accuracy reaching close to zero circular error probability (CEP)," they said.

The missile, which has features to deceive any anti ballistic missiles, had demonstrated flight duration of 483 seconds reaching a peak altitude of 43.5 km in 2008 user's trial.

Similarly, as a part of the operational exercises by Armed forces, two Prithvi-II missiles, aimed at two different targets at 350 km from launch point of ITR, at Chandipur were successfully launched within minutes of each other on October 12, 2009 and all the mission objectives were met.

The sleek missile once again proved its accuracy when the user, tried it in a 'salvo mode' on March 27 and June 18, 2010 from Chandipur. It was the fourth successful Prithvi-II flight within a period of eight months.

toi

Baba Ramdev to make his assets public today

HARIDWAR: With questions being raised over his huge assets, Baba Ramdev on Thursday morning said he will make public all his personal financial details and also the assets of firms and trusts associated with him in the evening.

"We will come out with financial details of Patanjali Yogapeeth and all our companies by today evening," Baba Ramdev said in an address to his supporters in Haridwar.

Hitting back at the government, Ramdev termed the crackdown on his supporters at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi last Sunday as 'brutal'. He also accused government of indulging in character assasination.

The yoga guru on Thursday again dropped dark hints about this struggle being taken up by the young whether he is around to see it or not.

Earlier, Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had questioned how Baba Ramdev had amassed so much of assets and demanded a probe into it.

toi

No respite from price rise, food inflation up 9.01%

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the government's projections of a moderation in the rate of price rise of food items, food inflation jumped to a two-month high of 9.01 per cent for the week ended May 28 on the back of costlier fruits, onions and protein-based items.

Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 8.06 per cent in the previous week, while it was as high as 20.62 per cent during the last week of May, 2010.

The latest numbers are the highest level of food inflation since the week ended March 26 when it had stood at at 9.18 per cent. For the last two months, the rate of price rise of food items has been below the 9 per cent mark.

As per data released by the government on Thursday, fruits became 30.78 per cent more expensive year-on-year, while onions were up by over 14 per cent.

During the week under review, milk prices were up by 8.49 per cent and egg, meat and fish became dearer by 6.99 per cent. Cereals also became costlier by 5.77 per cent on an annual basis.

However, the prices of pulses went down by 9.49 per cent year-on-year, while vegetables and potatoes became cheaper by 0.20 per cent and 2.87 per cent.

Inflation in overall primary articles, which have a weight of 20 per cent in the headline WPI, was reported at 11.52 per cent during the week under review, up from 10.87 per cent in the previous week.

However, inflation of non-food primary articles fell to 20.97 per cent, as against 21.31 per cent in the previous week. This is likely to bring some cheer to the government and the Reserve Bank, who have termed inflationary pressure from the core (non-food) segment as the biggest threat to the economy in the near future.

In the non-food segment, fibres became dearer by 56.56 per cent year-on-year, while minerals were up 12.11 per cent.

Fuel and power became more expensive by 12.46 per cent and petrol by 33.23 per cent on an annual basis during the week under review.

The government and RBI had said that in the months to come, inflationary pressure would be more from core (non-food) items on account of high global prices of commodities, particularly crude.

A rise in prices of food items was the main reason for inflationary pressure during 2010. Food inflation was in double digits for most of last year, before showing signs of moderation from March this year.

Food inflation had fallen to an 18-month low of 7.47 per cent in the first week of May. However, the prospects for a prolonged moderation now seems to have vanished.

Headline inflation stood at 8.66 per cent in April. The RBI, in its monetary policy for 2011-12, had projected that overall inflation would average 9 per cent during the first half of this fiscal.

The latest jump in food inflation numbers comes in the wake of a slew of bad news for the economy. GDP growth of the country slowed to a five-quarter low of 7.8 per cent during the January-March quarter, while the six core industries registered meagre 5.2 per cent expansion in April.

Experts had blamed inflation and the resultant rate hikes by the RBI, which resulted in slowing down of investment, for the poor economic growth numbers.

The RBI is expected to go for another round of rate hikes at its mid-quarterly review next week.

toi

MF Husain passes away in London

LONDON: Renowned artist MF Husain, whose paintings made waves and also stirred controversies, passed away in Royal Brompton Hospital on Thursday. He was 95.

According to reports, Husain was being treated for fluids in his lungs. However, the exact cause of his death is yet to be known.

Husain was in a self-imposed exile since 2006 after some of his paintings of Hindu deities led to life threats and attacks. Husain eventually adopted the citizenship of Qatar.

The paintings in question were created in 1970, but did not become an issue until 1996, when they were printed in Vichar Mimansa, a Hindi monthly magazine.

In response, eight criminal complaints were filed against Husain. In 2004, Delhi High Court dismissed these complaints of "promoting enmity between different groups ... by painting Hindu goddesses - Durga and Sarswati, that was later compromised by Hindus".

In 1998 Husain's house was attacked by some Hindu groups like Bajrang Dal and his art works were vandalised.

In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses.

A series of cases were brought against him and a court case related to the alleged obscene depiction of Hindu goddesses in his paintings resulted in issuing a non-bailable warrant against Husain after he failed to respond to summons.

Husain's initial success as an artist was in the late 1940s.

In 1947, he joined the Progressive Artists' Group, founded by Francis Newton Souza. This was a group of young artists who wished to break with the nationalist traditions established by the Bengal school of art and to encourage an Indian avant-garde, engaged at an international level.

In 1952, his first solo exhibition was held at Zürich and over the next few years, his work was widely seen in Europe and the US.

In 1955, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shree prize by the Government of India.

According to Forbes magazine, he has been called the "Picasso of India".


toi

Yeddyurappa gives himself, MLAs 150% pay hike

BANGALORE: It's celebration time for netas. In the absence of opposition parties in the assembly and without a debate, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa gifted himself and his colleagues a handsome 150% hike.

Starting next month, the salary cheques of lawmakers will look pretty robust. For the first time since the economic slowdown, the CM's monthly salary has been increased from the existing Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000, and sumptuary allowance from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh per annum. The salaries of ministers have been more than doubled — from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 — and sumptuary allowance is up from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh a year.

MLAs now get Rs 20,000 from the existing Rs 10,000 a month. Telephone allowance for lawmakers has been hiked from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.

The last salary correction for netas was done in 2009. TOI had reported imminent pay hikes for the CM, ministers and legislators in March this year.

The amendment to salary bills will cost the government nearly Rs 26 crore a year.

TOI

Uma Bharati back in BJP, but out of MP

NEW DELHI: After several failed attempts, Uma Bharati returned to BJP a little more than six years after her fiery harangue in full view of TV cameras at a party meeting where she rebelled against senior leader L K Advani and accused colleagues of malicious off-record briefings.

But for some time now, Advani and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat have been keen on Bharati's return while BJP president Nitin Gadkari has favoured taking back leaders who parted ways but sought reconciliation like Jaswant Singh. Bharati will have a "prominent role" in the BJP campaign in UP – an arrangement that keeps her out of Madhya Pradesh.

Bharati said she felt like a prodigal who comes home. "Out of the party for five, six years, I have realized that only BJP is my anchor and destination... In these six years, I learnt there is no option other than BJP. I want to forget the last five years," she said. She said her priority will be "Ram Rajya" in UP as a state of "Ram and Roti" and "Mandal and Kamandal". She is understood to have made it clear that her return will not cause problems for Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chauhan. The CM promptly welcomed her as did others like Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi.

Gadkari's announcement of Bharati's UP assignment will pit her against her old foe Digvijay Singh, Congress's political manager for the state, and whose 10-year rule in Madhya Pradesh she decisively ended in 2003.

Bharati's eventful exit from the BJP meeting chaired by Advani in 2004 was captured by TV cameras that were ironically enough, invited in by a leadership hopeful of projecting a party at work after NDA's defeat.

It took Gadkari more than a year to convince party colleagues and prepare the ground for her readmission, on the cards since at least the 2009 election. Her Lodh credentials, BJP hopes, will give it traction in UP's caste influenced politics. In recent months, she had all but wound up her party.

BJP is banking on her oratory and backward credentials to boost its UP prospects languishing for want of energetic leaders. BJP feels Bharati will give it a profile for the 2012 UP poll and also keep her out of Chauhan's way.

Bharati's return to the BJP fold, if it works out for the temperamental leader, might even help the BJP in Madhya Pradesh where the government will face a 10-year incumbency in 2013.

Referred to as the sexy sanyasin during the Ayodhya agitation, Bharati stormed out of BJP months after being forced to resign as Madhya Pradesh chief minister in August 2004 after an arrest warrant was issued in her name in a 1994 case when she controversially raised the national flag at the Anjuman-e-Islam in Hubli.

Her obvious appeal as a campaigner has always been shadowed by her sharp tongue and what her critics felt was a communally loaded, rabble rousing advocacy of the Ayodhya movement.

With her expectations of rehabilitation as chief minister belied, Bharati's public showdown led to her suspension that was briefly revoked but her protest at Chauhan becoming CM led to her expulsion. The Bharatiya Janshakti Party she set up fared poorly and her challenge fizzled out with Chauhan leading BJP to an unprecedented second term in 2008 and Bharati even lost her assembly seat.

A section of BJP, notably Advani, had been strongly advocating bringing her back and Gadkari went along despite the misgivings of Madhya Pradesh leaders who see her as a threat and are also disconcerted by her maverick ways. But the BJP leadership does recognize that she can be a powerful campaigner.

Although her success proved short lived, she won a thumping three-fourth majority in 2003 when she best Digvijay Singh in a campaign that labeled him "Mr Bantadhar (Mr devastation)". Her soaring popularity was affected by haphazard administration and reports of the influence her nephews had come to wield.

Bharati won four Lok Sabha elections from Khajuraho and one from Bhopal on the trot form 1991 onwards. She was a protégé of the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia who noticed her as a precocious child preacher.

Always an unconventional figure in male dominated politics, Bharati was famous for her fondness for Barbies as well as for driving a white Gypsy jeep around her native Tikamgarh where she was known as didi.

Never far from controversy, her proximity to another expelled BJP leader K N Govindacharya grabbed media coverage in the mid-90s. The alleged affair between the RSS pracharak and the sanyasin became a subject of fierce gossip and part of dirty politics in the BJP where a faction opposed to Govindacharya gleefully whipped the controversy.

TOI

People throng Rajghat to support Hazare's fast

NEW DELHI: Thousands of people have gathered at Rajghat here to take part in the day-long hunger strike called by Anna Hazare to protest against police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.

Anna Hazare will begin his day-long fast at the Rajghat at 10 am.

A number of youths wearing Gandhi caps and elderly people were seen at the spot waving the tricolour amidst a heavy posse of security personnel.

A man dressed like Mahatma Gandhi was the centre of attraction as he sang Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'.

With Delhi Police refusing permission for the day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, Hazare had decided to shift the venue to Rajghat to avoid a confrontation.

Civil rights activists had contended that denial of permission to hold peaceful protest was against the basic Constitutional rights of citizens.

The Hazare-led protest will be accompanied by an all-religion prayer meeting and a debate on Lokpal Bill.

A senior police official said on Tuesday that they have refused permission for the fast at Jantar Mantar due to prohibitory orders at the site after the police action against Baba Ramdev in Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

TOI

Agni-V test scheduled for December

NEW DELHI: India finally plans to test its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-V, with near ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capabilities, this December after some delay.

With high road mobility, fast-reaction ability and a strike range over 5,000 km, Agni-V would even bring China's northernmost regions within its nuclear strike envelope if it is ever required.

The armed forces are already inducting the two-stage 3,500-km Agni-III after completion of its developmental and pre-induction trials last year, having earlier operationalised the Pakistan-specific Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (over 2,000-km) missiles.

The Agni-V, in turn, is meant to add some much-needed credible deterrence muscle against China, which has a massive nuclear arsenal with missiles like the 11,200-km Dong Feng-31A capable of hitting any Indian city.

For one, it will be quite easy to store and swiftly transport the 17.5-metre tall Agni-V by road since it's a canister-launch missile system, unlike the earlier Agni missiles. If fired from the North-East, for instance, it would be able to hit China's northernmost city of Habin.

For another, Agni-V would also carry MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles) payloads being concurrently developed. A single MIRVed missile can deliver multiple warheads at different targets even if they are separated by long distances.

"We have tested the three (solid-propellant composite rocket motor) stages of Agni-V independently...all ground tests are now over. The integration process is now in progress. We want to test the missile in December, not let it spill over to 2012," DRDO chief V K Saraswat told TOI on Friday.

This came after defence minister A K Antony, addressing the annual DRDO awards ceremony, asked defence scientists to "demonstrate" the 5,000-km missile's capability "at the earliest".

With a "launch mass" of around 50 tonne and a development cost of over Rs 2,500 crore, Agni-V will incorporate advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerator for navigation and guidance. It takes its first stage from Agni-III, with a modified second stage and a miniaturized third stage to ensure it can fly to distances beyond 5,000 km.

An ICBM, incidentally, usually denotes a missile capable of hitting targets over 5,500 km away, and has largely been the preserve of the Big-5 countries till now.

DRDO is also gearing up for another test of its two-tier BMD (ballistic missile defence) system, designed to track and destroy hostile missiles both inside (endo) and outside (exo) the earth's atmosphere, around this August with a new interceptor missile called PDV to add to the existing ones.

Antony, on his part, said, "The interceptor missile development programme has taken India into an elite club of nations that possess the capability to demonstrate and deploy missile defence. DRDO should now also work towards developing a credible BMD for our country."

toi

Baba Ramdev begins fast against black money

NEW DELHI: Baba Ramdev launched his indefinite fast against corruption and blackmoney here this morning after the government failed to persuade him to call off his protest.

The yoga guru began the protest along with thousands of his followers at the Ramlila maidan here as he was joined by Swami Sadhavi Ritambhara and other religious leaders from the Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities.

Before launching the fast, Ramdev held a yoga and 'bhajan' session during which he told the gathering that the protest was intended to save the country from corruption and ensure that the poor get a good life.

"Nothing is impossible, everything is possible and we are not going to be defeated," the saffron-clad Baba seated on on an elevated platform, told the gathering, referring to bringing back of black money stashed in tax havens abroad.

Ramdev arrived at the stage at around 0450 hrs today to a huge round of applause from his followers.

Union ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay had held a marathon meeting yesterday with Ramdev to persuade him to not go ahead with his indefinite fast. However, the talks failed to reach any breakthrough with the yoga guru insisting that all his demands be met with completely.

Ramdev reiterated that his fight was against black money and he would carry his campaign to its logical conclusion. He warned his followers against making any personal attacks on individuals and urged them to remain focussed on the issue.

The yoga guru also hinted that there was a conspiracy against him, which he would reveal at a later stage.

Ramdev announced to his supporters on Friday that the government had agreed on 90 per cent of his demands.

There are indications that Ramdev may end his fast early.

toi

Baba Ramdev’s followers prepare ground for protest

Baba Ramdev’s followers in the city are busy making preparation for the yoga guru’s indefinite hunger strike that commences in New Delhi on Saturday. Arrangements are being made at Azad Maidan to accommodate thousands of his supporters. On Friday, waterproof pandals with high platform for seating and roof cover were being installed.

“We have arranged for 1.5ft high platforms to seat people so that if it rains the water would flow out without affecting the protesters,” said Suresh Naik, Mumbai president, Bharat Swabhiman. “Also, we have made arrangements for tarpaulin roof covers to make it rain and sun proof.”

According to Naik, though they have received permission to accommodate 1,000 people, they are expecting a crowd of nearly 3,000 to 4,000 supporters.

Naik said 51 people, of which 22 are women, would also be going on an indefinite hunger strike from Saturday. “More than 400 people had offered to fast, but we requested them not to as it would be difficult to manage so many people if anything went wrong,” he added.

Arrangements for food, sanitation and drinking water have also been made by the organisers. The first day of fast will start with yoga shibir at 5am on Saturday and the fasting will start from 10am.

“As a student I always wanted to stop corruption, but didn’t know how to,” said Sachin Bidwai, a resident of Nagpur who will be participating in the hunger strike. “Baba once told me that 80% of the Indian population earned only Rs20 per day and that according to a survey an Rs400 lakh crore was in the foreign countries that is saved and invested illegally. I was shocked and then decided to join the movement.”

the hindu

Music, humour and yoga at Ramlila Grounds

Devotional and patriotic songs on Saturday reverberated across the Ramlila Grounds, the site of yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s hunger strike against black money, as his discourse was laced with humour and demonstration of ’asanas’

A music-filled morning greeted the thousands of people who poured into the sprawling site to see and listen to Baba Ramdev.

At 4:50 am, the yoga guru came on the dais accompanied by saffron-clad monks and he was joined by radical Sangh Parivar leader Sadhvi Ritambara and Muslim and Sikh religious leaders.

One-man show

It was almost a one-man show by Baba Ramdev who conducted the proceedings, interspersing yoga demonstration, discourse and music with a bit of humour to spice up the proceedings.

Whenever religious leaders came on the dais, Baba Ramdev would introduce, apparently to project that his movement was not sponsored by RSS or any other organisation.

Baba Ramdev continuously addressed the gathering and was followed by Sadhvi Ridambara who lavished praise on the Baba saying “if there were more Vallabbhai Patels, then there was no need for a sanyasi to sit on satyagraha.”

Maulvi Rizvi complimented the Sadhvi for her speech and said “this is not Mullah Omar’s Taliban. This is Hindustan,” drawing thunderous applause.

Message for the Obese!

Baba Ramdev was at his humorous best when he told his followers that the hunger strike will help them in two ways.

“Hamara mota bhai aur moti baheno ke liye yeh satyagrah health benefits dega aur desh ke liye wealth mil jayega” (while the hunger strike will help slim obese brothers and sisters, it will also bring wealth to the country)”.

He said support from politicians is welcome but they cannot make speeches.

“They can support us but they cannot make speeches because it leads to controversy,” he said.

The yoga guru then gave instructions to those who were fasting along with him, saying “we have arranged for water and lemon juice but don’t drink in large quantities.”

“By making this call, we can awaken the country. We have received more than 55 lakh missed calls already.

Sometime, we will cross a record one crore mark to remove corruption,” he said, referring to his campaign.

the hindu

About Swami Ramdev

Swami Ramdev is a Hindu Yogi, also known as Baba Ramdev. Swami Ramdev has gained popularity for his teachings of Yoga and Pranayama, and for his public stance on a number of political and medical issues, who has in the recent past taken on the role of a "sage soldier" (yoddha sanyasi) in a peaceful stance against corruption.

Early life

He was born 25 Dec 1965 as Ram Krishna Yadav to Gulabo Devi and Ram Nivas Yadav in the village Ali Saiyad Pur of Mahendragarh district in Haryana state of India. He was inspired by the portraits of Ram Prasad 'Bismil' and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that were hung in his room. As soon as he grew up and read the autobiography of Ram Prasad 'Bismil', his mind was totally washed. After completing middle education (eight standard) from Shahjadpur Haryana, he joined Aarsh (Arya) Gurukul, Khanpur and studied Sanskrit and Yoga under the guidance of Achary Pradumn.

Eventually when he came in the contact of another saint Achary Baldevji, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas and changed his original name Ram Krishna to the present one of Swami Ramdev.

In Kalva Gurukul of Jind district in Haryana India he offered free training of Yog to villagers for some time. Then he moved to Haridwar and spent several years to study ancient Indian scriptures at Gurukul Kangari where he read another rare book of Aurobindo Ghosh- Yogik Sadhan which was translated from Bangla into Hindi by Ram Prasad 'Bismil'.After reading this small booklet he went to the caves of Himalaya and practiced intense self-discipline and meditation.

Contemporary life and fame

He shot into prominence when he started the Divya Yog Mandir Trust with the company of Achary Bal Krishna. In 2003, Aastha TV began featuring him in its morning yoga slot. Within a few years, he had gathered a cult following.He is known for his efforts of popularizing yoga. The New York Times called him "an Indian, who built Yoga Empire, a product and symbol of the New India, a yogic fusion of Richard Simmons, Dr. Oz and Oprah Winfrey, irrepressible and bursting with Vedic wisdom".His yog-camps are attended by a large number of people in India and abroad.

Wikipedia.org

Baba Ramdev’s ‘fast unto death’ begins

New Delhi, June 4 (IBNS): India’s most popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev began his anti-graft hunger strike in New Delhi at 7 am on Saturday, after the government failed to convince him that it was doing enough to tackle the “black money” issu.

His main demand, the yoga guru wants Prime Minister’s Manmohan Singh’s government take concrete steps towards repatriating illicit funds of the Indian rich, estimated by him to be around Rs 400 lakh crore, stashed away in offshore banks to avoid taxes.

For the last three days, the government scrambled to win over Ramdev, clearly apprehensive of having a second anti-graft mass protest in two months take shots at its already battered public approval, as it held frantic negotiations with the Baba and his associates.

The ‘fast unto death’ began sharp 7 am at the Ramlila Maidan where thousands of supporters joined Ramdev and many more are expected throughout the day. Former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Ritambara also shared the stage with him.

Before launching the “satyagraha against corruption”, Ramdev held a yoga and bhajan session during which he told the gathering that his protest intended to “save the country from corruption and ensure that the poor get a good life.”

“Nothing is impossible, everything is possible and we are not going to be defeated,” he said, after he appeared on stage at 4:50 am and was greeted by a huge round of applause from his applause.

The strike to bring back what Ramdev calls “national asset” began after even four hours of talks with top ministers of the Indian government at a five star hotel failed to win him over. However negotiations and “back channel” talks were expected to continue even as the fast went ahead.

Union Ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay met Baba Ramdev on Friday but failed to arrive at a solution as the yoga guru appeared before his followers at Ramlila ground and announced: "The hunger strike will begin and continue till our demands are met."

"Bharat Mata ki jai [Hail the motherland]" he hollered and his followers echoed.

Some media reports said the Prime Minister is approaching the President of India on the crisis.

Ramdev said the "satyagraha" will continue because it is important to save the country from corruption. He said there would be no revolt against any political party but a peaceful movement and hunger strike will continue.

He also warned the government not to try to suppress the movement which he promised will be peaceful.

Earlier in the day Baba Ramdev said corrupts should be given death sentence.

"My mission is neither politically motivated nor communal, nor do I have any underground agenda. Corrupt people have no religion, they are demons. All corrupt ministers should be given the death sentence,” Ramdev told a massive gathering.

Clarifying his stand, Ramdev said: "I am not crossing the limits of Yoga. Not lying and stealing is also part of yoga and I am trying to bring those who have crossed that limit back within the limit."

He also comment on other political issues, demanded higher education in Indian languages and called land acquisition laws to be reformed.

"Not a single inch of land should be taken from the farmers without their consent," he said, criticizing the old law.

He said his movement was impartial and not communal.

"The arrangements that you see here is not from black money. This is not a foreign company sponsored movement. This is not sponsored by Coca Cola or Pepsi," he said ahead of his fast-unto-death.

"The tents, the ceiling fans revolving are not with money from the Swiss Bank. They are all people's hard earned money and from their toil," he said.

"This is not a communal or political movement. People are against corrupt and the powerful," he said.

Hitting out at Baba Ramdev’s planned fast against black money, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday said he should give up his yoga practices and become a full-time politician.

"If Ramdev wants to do politics, he should give up yoga. He shouldn’t try to balance politics behind the curtains of yoga; better become a full-time politician,” said Singh.

“As it is he is not a guru any more. He has become a businessman now. He charges Rs. 50,000 for teaching yoga,” he said.

Earlier saffron groups started lending support to the movement of Baba Ramdev with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) activists gearing up to join the fast of Ramdev.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee cancelled his Kolkata visit and remained engaged in diffusing the situation even as the Congress-led government has come under sharp criticism of the Congress party itself for going all out to placate the Baba.

On Thursday it seemed that the Indian government had taken a harder hand to convince Baba Ramdev to not go ahead with his hunger strike as it denied point blank one of his demands and hinted that it would negotiate with the yoga guru only on their own terms.

This was after on Wednesday the government laid out a red carpet welcome in New Delhi to the bearded, saffron-clad yoga star as he descended from a private jet in the airport as the government’s stalwarts including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Telecoms
Minister Kapil Sibal went to receive him.

The seemingly desperate attempt to appease Ramdev, whose business empire of yoga sessions, televisions shows and ayurvedic medicine generates over Rs 180 crore every year and commands a huge fan following, had apparently generated internal dissent within the Congress party.

Claiming a support of one crore people, yoga guru has placed forth a bevy of demands, the prime of which talk about "quantifiable steps" to repatriate Rs 400 lakh core worth of Indian illicit funds supposedly stashed away in offshore banks.

Ramdev has said that this so-called ‘black money’ suspected of being funds paid for bribes or other illegal transactions and stashed away to evade taxes could provide a huge boost to the Indian economy.

“When the black money is brought back, our economy will be so huge, our currency will be so strong that our one rupee will be equal to $50,” he was quoted in an interview earlier this week, where he demanded that the government take firm steps on retrieving the funds.

His other proposals also include withdrawing large denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 that he says are used for illicit transactions, introduce the death penalty for corrupt officials and dispose of graft lawsuits within one year.

Even though some of the demands of the 46-year-old guru, who believes that homosexuality along with Cancer and HIV/AIDS can be cured through yoga, seemed eccentric, the government worked hard to not directly contradict his demands, except the one regarding withdrawing bank notes.

Who is Baba Ramdev?

New Delhi: As Swamis go, he is rather young - turned 45 last year. Before Baba Ramdev became the latest crusader against corruption, he was best known for his efforts to popularise yoga among increasingly health conscious Indians.

Ramdev is largely a television and video phenomenon. He fired the imagination of an entire segment of TV watchers, who tuned out of daily soap opera to tune into and do yoga with Baba Ramdev. Now, thousands turn up at his camps to do mass yoga with him.

A wiry man with a full flowing black beard, hair parted and tied back, in red robes, the abiding vision of Ramdev is of a man demonstrating very difficult yoga asanas. He has a considerable following and people flock to his institutes in Haridwar, near Dehradun. The yoga guru claims to cure many ailments through yoga and ayurveda and has courted controversy with his claims of curing AIDS and cancer with yoga, though he later clarified that he had only said yoga helped provide relief to those with AIDS.

As his popularity has grown in the era of multiple television channels, Ramdev has found not just celebrity, but political ambition too. A year ago he announced that he would launch a new political party - the Bharat Swabhiman - to "cleanse the system." Ramdev said that he would not contest elections but that his party would contest all 543 Lok Sabha seats in the next elections on a manifesto that shall address black money and corruption as the key issues.

And those are the issues that Ramdev has brought out now. In a change of plans, he said he would launch a satyagraha instead of a party. He is do that today in the national capital. With a hunger-strike, much in the manner of social activist Anna Hazare, who had galvanized mass support with his hunger strike against corruption two months ago. Both Ramdev and Anna are part of a citizens effort to goad the government into making more stringent laws against corruption.

Ramdev was born in 1965 in a Haryana village called Alipur. He was named Ramkishan Yadav. Various biographies say Ramkishan attended school till class 8 and then joined a gurukul where he learnt Sanskrit and Yoga.

He later became a sanyasi (one who renounces the world) and took the name Baba Ramdev and began to teach yoga. He later moved to Haridwar, where he continued to offer free yoga lessons. His followers claim he has studied the Hindu scriptures deeply and even taught them in various gurukuls.

Ramdev has set up several trusts, gurukuls and foundations and conducts yoga camps and classes throughout the world. He is known for his focus on pranayama, the ancient breathing exercises that are a fundamental part of yoga.

Baba Ramdev muscled his way into India's consciousness in 1995 when his mass yoga sessions started being televised. He used his classes to preach against corruption in the system, and occasionally to promote a swadeshi ideology that was welcomed by saffron groups.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/who-is-baba-ramdev-109946